Coast Guard schedules maritime exercise on Hood Canal

Editor’s Note: The original version of this story listed the established safety zone as 100 yards around each vessel. The safety zone will extend 500 yards around each vessel.

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit based in Bangor, Wash., is scheduled to conduct an exercise on the Hood Canal, Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The exercise includes boat tactics, security zone enforcement, weapons capabilities and is designed to ensure the highest quality training for Coast Guard personnel.

During the exercise, Coast Guard personnel will be using blank rounds and LA-51 warning munitions for live-fire training. No person will have anything shot at them.

All necessary precautions will be taken to ensure discarded casings are collected for appropriate disposal, and designated spotters will monitor marine mammal activity. If any marine mammals are spotted in the vicinity, all exercise activity will cease until all wildlife depart the training area.

There will be a 500-yard safety zone in place around each participating vessel. Purposefully violating the safety zone in effect during the exercise is a crime. A broadcast notice to mariners will be transmitted on VHF-FM channels 16, 13 and 22 before, during and at the completion of the exercise.

The Coast Guard trains to fulfill its motto of “Always Ready” for all threats, all hazards, all the time. The goal of the exercise is to maintain and improve qualifications and proficiency of personnel charged with protecting the community, maritime environment and other vessels.

– See more at: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1940966/Correction-Coast-Guard-schedules-maritime-exercise-on-Hood-Canal#sthash.Z7uUdtRx.dpuf